Green Ghana Volunteers

Dixcove Hospital records six cases of buruli ulcer

GNA - Dixcove Government Hospital commonly known as Nana Hemang Denkyi Hospital in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region, has recorded six cases of buruli ulcer. The hospital has also recorded 3.2 per cent of HIV positive cases this year, Dr Simon Osei Frimpong, Medical Superintendent of the hospital told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Monday at Dixcove. He said skin disease was prevalent in the fishing and farming area and attributed it to the source of the area's untreated drinking water, (borehole) adding that other common health cases reported at the hospital were Respiratory Tract Infection, malaria and hernia among others. The Medical Superintendent expressed worry that people in the area, especially pregnant mothers resorted to spiritual treatment for their ailments.

He added that people usually visit the hospital when their conditions became critical therefore most of them does not survive. Dr Osei-Frimpong mentioned lack of ambulance as one of the constraints confronting them saying the 38 year old hospital relies on the central ambulance from the Effia Nkwanta Hospital in Takoradi, which is far away from the district. He said the main kitchen that serves the institution had for the past 18 years been out of order. The Medical Superintendent appealed for a reservoir at the hospital premises to enable it to draw water from the borehole. He said qualified nurses had been trained to attend to minor health issues in his absence. Dr Osei-Frimpong is the only Doctor in the hospital. He said health personnel would continue to educational people on their health needs but also appealed to corporate bodies and individuals to also support them to offer quality services to the people.